diff --git a/lib/crewai/src/crewai/agents/agent_builder/base_agent.py b/lib/crewai/src/crewai/agents/agent_builder/base_agent.py
index 162768b3d..ae33acc75 100644
--- a/lib/crewai/src/crewai/agents/agent_builder/base_agent.py
+++ b/lib/crewai/src/crewai/agents/agent_builder/base_agent.py
@@ -215,9 +215,10 @@ class BaseAgent(BaseModel, ABC, metaclass=AgentMeta):
             "If not set, falls back to crew memory."
         ),
     )
-    skills: list[str | Path | Skill] | None = Field(
+    skills: list[Path | Skill] | None = Field(
         default=None,
-        description="Agent Skills. Accepts paths (str or Path) for discovery or pre-loaded Skill objects.",
+        description="Agent Skills. Accepts paths for discovery or pre-loaded Skill objects.",
+        min_length=1,
     )
 
     @field_validator("skills", mode="before")
diff --git a/lib/crewai/src/crewai/events/types/skill_events.py b/lib/crewai/src/crewai/events/types/skill_events.py
index 3e763d162..f99d6bd70 100644
--- a/lib/crewai/src/crewai/events/types/skill_events.py
+++ b/lib/crewai/src/crewai/events/types/skill_events.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Events emitted during skill discovery, loading, and activation.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
 from crewai.events.base_events import BaseEvent
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ class SkillEvent(BaseEvent):
     """Base event for skill operations."""
 
     skill_name: str = ""
-    skill_path: str | None = None
+    skill_path: Path | None = None
     from_agent: Any | None = None
     from_task: Any | None = None
 
@@ -28,13 +29,14 @@ class SkillDiscoveryStartedEvent(SkillEvent):
     """Event emitted when skill discovery begins."""
 
     type: str = "skill_discovery_started"
-    search_path: str
+    search_path: Path
 
 
 class SkillDiscoveryCompletedEvent(SkillEvent):
     """Event emitted when skill discovery completes."""
 
     type: str = "skill_discovery_completed"
+    search_path: Path
     skills_found: int
     skill_names: list[str]
 
diff --git a/lib/crewai/src/crewai/skills/loader.py b/lib/crewai/src/crewai/skills/loader.py
index 02887d95f..bf89abbe5 100644
--- a/lib/crewai/src/crewai/skills/loader.py
+++ b/lib/crewai/src/crewai/skills/loader.py
@@ -41,16 +41,17 @@ def discover_skills(
     Returns:
         List of Skill instances at METADATA level.
     """
-    skills: list[Skill] = []
-
     if not search_path.is_dir():
-        return skills
+        msg = f"Skill search path does not exist or is not a directory: {search_path}"
+        raise FileNotFoundError(msg)
+
+    skills: list[Skill] = []
 
     if source is not None:
         crewai_event_bus.emit(
             source,
             event=SkillDiscoveryStartedEvent(
-                search_path=str(search_path),
+                search_path=search_path,
             ),
         )
 
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ def discover_skills(
                     source,
                     event=SkillLoadedEvent(
                         skill_name=skill.name,
-                        skill_path=str(skill.path),
+                        skill_path=skill.path,
                         disclosure_level=skill.disclosure_level.value,
                     ),
                 )
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ def discover_skills(
                     source,
                     event=SkillLoadFailedEvent(
                         skill_name=child.name,
-                        skill_path=str(child),
+                        skill_path=child,
                         error=str(e),
                     ),
                 )
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ def discover_skills(
         crewai_event_bus.emit(
             source,
             event=SkillDiscoveryCompletedEvent(
-                search_path=str(search_path),
+                search_path=search_path,
                 skills_found=len(skills),
                 skill_names=[s.name for s in skills],
             ),
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ def activate_skill(
             source,
             event=SkillActivatedEvent(
                 skill_name=activated.name,
-                skill_path=str(activated.path),
+                skill_path=activated.path,
                 disclosure_level=activated.disclosure_level.value,
             ),
         )